Definify.com

Definition 2024


beon

beon

Old English

Verb

bēon

  1. to be

Usage notes

The verb "to be" in Old English was suppletive, and used forms from at least three different roots. There were two distinct present stems, for which wesan and bēon were the two infinitive forms. The present bēon was used to express permanent truths (the "gnomic present"), while wesan was used for the present participle and the preterite. They both shared the same past tense forms.

Conjugation

Descendants

  • English: be (infinitive/subjunctive be, present participle being, past participle been)